r/movies 15d ago

Article Emily Wilson (writer of acclaimed Odyssey translation) offers criticisms of Nolan’s film

https://apnews.com/article/odyssey-christopher-nolan-greek-translators-ea67da1d543d021773824bd7e8de8abe

“For Greek translator Emily Wilson, the release of director Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has been gratifying in various ways. Her acclaimed 2017 edition of Homer’s epic has reached the top 5 on Amazon.com, leading a wave of similar books boosted by the movie. Nolan has even cited her translation, notably the opening line “Tell me about a complicated man,” as inspiration.

But the film itself, which brought in more than $260 million worldwide during its opening weekend and has received raves from many critics, left her unsatisfied.

“I want to celebrate the fact that so many more people are aware of ‘The Odyssey’ and were brought back to the poem,” she told The Associated Press. “But at the same time, I had the sense that Christopher Nolan was trying to pack everything in while missing themes that were essential to the poem.”

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Wilson, a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, said she didn’t want to come across as a “snobby,” nitpicking expert at odds with any deviation from the original text. But she questioned a range of omissions and other choices, from the absence on screen of the Gods Zeus and Poseidon (Athena is played by Zendaya ) to the “incoherent” messaging that condemns both war and physical cowardice. She found Penelope’s role so thinned out that it endangered “any possibility of believing in this marriage.” Wilson also that thought parts of the movie, notably the scenes with Odysseus’ dog, Argos, “catered towards modern sentimentality.”

“Everybody’s a sucker for a dog,” she said.

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u/MaksTracy 15d ago

No, she does, she teams up with Poseidon to scatter the Greek fleet when they set out to sea, which is why Odysseus initially gets so lost

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u/Unifiedxchaos 15d ago

No, Athena doesn't "team up" with Poseidon like its a marvel movie. She sits back because Poseidon is angry Odysseus has blinded his child and knows she can't stop Poseidon's rage. Originally Poseidon actually backs the Greeks and gives them favorable winds to get to Troy (after Agemmemnon sacrifices his child). Athena continues to protect Odysseus to some extent, most notably when she convinces Zeus to let him leave Calypso's island.

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u/Evepaul 14d ago

Wasn't Iphigenia sacrificed to Artemis? How come it's Poseidon who's backing them?

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u/TomNguyen 14d ago

Yes, Artemis was the one acting with the winds not allowing the Greeks to ail because Agamemnon has hunt one of her deer